NATO
Logistics
Handbook

October 1997

Chapter 11: Civil Emergency Planning

Senior Civil Emergency Planning Committee (SCEPC) - AC/98

1107. The senior NATO body involved is the SCEPC,
chaired by the Assistant Secretary General (ASG) for SILCEP,
and supported by the Civil Emergency Planning Directorate
(CEPD). The SCEPC meets monthly in Permanent Session,
with representatives drawn from the national delegations at
NATO HQ, and bi-annually in Plenary Session with a
membership drawn from senior representatives from capitals.
Representatives of the IS Logistics Directorate and the International Military Staff (IMS) Logistics, Armaments & Resources Division, and the
MNCs attend all meetings.

1108. SCEPC co-ordinates and gives guidance to the
activities of nine Planning Boards and Committees (PB&Cs)
(see Annex A), many of which deal with the provision of civil resources for the logistic support of Alliance forces. They are:

Planning Board for Ocean Shipping (PBOS) - AC/271

1109. The PBOS plans for the provision of transportation
of persons and goods by sea in crisis and conflict within and
beyond NATO's area of responsibility. The Planning Board operates
on the principle that shipping cannot be treated on a regional
basis and that the worldwide interrelation of all shipping
activities must be taken into account in securing the benefit of
shipping services, including vessels and facilities controlled by
countries not party to the North Atlantic Treaty. In carrying out
its functions, PBOS allows for the needs of countries and
territories beyond NATO's area of responsibility for which a measure
of shipping responsibility might have to be borne in wartime.

Planning Board for European Inland Surface
Transport (PBEIST) - AC/15

1110. The PBEIST coordinates planning for the use in
crisis and conflict of:

seaports and emergency anchorages and transport
by road, rail and inland waterways, including
their respective infrastructure;

It also coordinates, wherever necessary, short sea and
feeder services, in coordination with the Planning Board of
Ocean Shipping (PBOS) which is generally competent for shipping.

Civil Aviation Planning Committee (CAPC) - AC/107

1111. The CAPC also operates on the principle that
civil aviation cannot be treated on a regional basis and that
the worldwide interrelation of all aviation activities must be
taken into account. The general and primary aims of civil
aviation planning in NATO, as represented by CAPC, are to assist
in maximizing the availability of the civil aviation resources
of member nations during crisis and war, and to optimize
the Alliance's use of civil aviation resources in support of
both military operations and essential civil requirements.

Food and Agriculture Planning Committee (FAPC) - AC/25

1112. The FAPC monitors the state of readiness of the
national civil emergency plans of member nations in the fields of
food and agriculture, and makes recommendations to SCEPC
for action by nations as regards coordination, mutual
cooperation or common action within the framework of the Alliance.

Industrial Planning Committee (IPC) - AC/143

1113. The IPC develops plans in peacetime which:

ensure the continued availability of, and equitable
and effective distribution within the Alliance of,
essential industrial supplies and services for both civil
and military purposes; and

coordinate the mobilization and use of
industrial resources by member nations in support of the
overall defence effort in crisis and war.

Petroleum Planning Committee (PPC) - AC/12

1114. The function of the PPC is to maximize NATO's
readiness to meet oil shortfalls, and to develop and maintain
adequate arrangements for a continued supply and equitable
distribution of civilian supplies of oil and oil products for both civil
and military purposes in times of crisis and war.

Joint Medical Committee (JMC) - AC/320

1115. The JMC carries out such joint civil/military
planning as cannot adequately be undertaken by the individual NATO
member nations without harmonization, mutual cooperation,
or common action within the framework of the Alliance.

Civil Communications Planning Committee (CCPC) -
AC/121

1116. The CCPC is responsible for civil communication
matters under NATO civil emergency arrangements. Civil
communication planning provides for the maintenance of
communication services for political, economic and military purposes; in this
context the term "civil communications" is seen
as telecommunication facilities and services, both public and leased, postal services and any other related services provided by NATO
countries, excluding military owned and NATO owned
telecommunication facilities.

Civil Protection Committee (CPC) - AC/23

1117. Within the framework of the general aims of
Civil Emergency Planning, the CPC carries out
international cooperation as appropriate with regard to protection of
the population and disaster relief. As such it is the focal point for
all NATO and Partner countries regarding pre-disaster planning
and post-disaster analysis.